In Search Of The Nadir…

I always thought it couldn’t go below Narasimma. But then it has happened. In the end of 2007 came “Yaarukku Yaaro“, taking the state by storm. Though not more than a handful of people knew that it released, the following it has amassed has taken it to a cult status (Imagine, this thing has torrents floating around the internet!). In spite of a lot of hindrances by friends and well wishers, I watched the film. I just didn’t want to miss out the experience of watching the worst Tamil film ever made. I must confess I was not disappointed at all.

Davit is an automobile engineer/scientist who has always aspired to make the most inexpensive four wheeler (I don’t know if the car was inexpensive, but it was definitely cheap!), affordable by all. In his quest, he is caught between the love of two women in his life. Dheeba, a doctor who has helped him financially to set up his industry and Manjoo, his college mate who returns from Canada to take him along. Davit is torn apart by the moral questions that surround him. This is one of the rare gems that completes the climactic showdown in just 8 minutes and the final twist in around 6 seconds. To add to the agony, the film has an intentional “comedy track” which, needless to say, fails utterly.

Sam Anderson is primarily the reason for the film’s present status and has excelled in scenes he doesn’t appear in. My hunch is that the poor thing was kidnapped and threatened to play the role. Varnika (Hence forth called as “Dream girl 1”, DG1) and Jothi (“Dream girl 2”, DG2) play the love interests (OMG). DG1 has not done what she was asked to do while DG2 has done more than she was asked to.

The film could have hidden behind Narasimma if it were not for the <any derogatory adjective> technique. I wonder why Joe Stanley has taken all the blame for the movie. Produced by Universal ThavamaniCine Arts (No way related to the Hollywood production house), the film has Christianity written all over it, with sin and redemption portrayed in the most distasteful manner. Special mention to the tradition-defying song-sequences (all shot around the same landfill) which has to be seen to be cursed.

However, this film actually shows one thing: How a technical failure is magnified in contrast to a failure in script. That is why Narasimma seems like Indiana Jones in comparison. I should be kicking myself for writing a blog on this piece of junk, but my duties as a responsible film-goer overwhelms.

a little late in the reply but c’mon… the movie was defnly by a hardcore pope hating non christian… if the evangelists were to see their trade seep down so bad they’d shoot 10 ft needles up their eyes…

and btw… varnika was a model in mumbai before this. when they had to close down the freebies in nightclubs she signed for the cameo!

While I truly appreciate your taking time off to post about this landmark film, let me point out a few salient points that will hopefully present this piece of gem in a different light.

-> Yaarukku Yaaro is high art. Please don’t laugh. I have many, many reasons to say this. Let me just state one. The tagline – step nee and explanation for the same in the climax. Joe Stanley/Sam Anderson are trippers! Rock stars! You tell me who else in the whole wide world could have thought this out.

–> The song/dance sequences. Particularly the dance. They are carefully choreographed to just exude the right amount of silliness and awkwardness without being downright unwatchable. You don’t believe me? If I were to film my great-uncle shaking a leg to James Brown’s “Living In America”, and hope it becomes a meme, what chance would I have? Ergo, Sam/Stanley are ROCKSTARS!!

—> The “comedy track” was made deliberately unfunny so that the viewer will actually anticipate the next Sam scene. Genius!

—-> THE F*ING CAR MODELS HE DESIGNED ARE F*ING CRAYON DRAWINGS!!

I submit, therefore, that Yaarukku Yaaro is not a bad film. There was a part of you that absolutely loved it, right? You’ll be talking about it to everyone you meet. See, this movie is that rare gem that manages to find a fine line between genius and moronic and treads it with the skill and awesomeness of Philippe Petit.

Thala.. semma blog da.. stumbled on to it from elsewhere..and will be a regular visitor henceforth…hope u r doing good..

The reason why I commented on this post was cos even I have been wondering about the motives behind making this movie. Though Vishal’s viewpoint above makes for fascinating reading, I, for one, feel the argument is a bit stretched.

Could it be due to some financial reasons – converting black money to white or tax benefits?

Hey there… I think the film was made for simply advocating Christianity. But what should have been a simple TV footage, is instead made into a full film (I think no one would have had the intention to release it theatrically initially). But pretty harmless movie anyway, compared to teh pretentious duds of mainstream.